Air filter for railroad cars



Feb. 8, 1938.

J. D. STROBELL Filed Sept. 12, 1935 2 sheets sheet 1 k 'M Q H d- INVENTOR N John D. Sr06eli BY @w M W ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1938. v J. D. STROBELL 7 AIR FILTERYFOR RAILROAD CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1935 l l l l t l I IIJ llllllllJfl i l l l l INVENTOR s Q Q Q Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES Am r'm'ran Fon asmaosn cans John D. Strobeil, New Haven, Gonngassignor to I The Safety Car Heating & Lighting Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application master 12, 1935, Serial No. 40,217

' '10 Claims. ((1183-41) This invention relates to an air filtering apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of this general character designed for use as a fresh air inlet for railroad cars 'or the like.

ii One of the objects of this invention is to pro vide an air filtering apparatus of simple and sturdy construction and marked operating emciency. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature which can be easily and quickly installed in railroad cars or the like of standard construction without material alterations thereof. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature capable of filtering a large quantity of air although occupying but a small amount of space within the car. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature having filtering units which are readily accessible and easily removed for replacement or the like. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the. scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my fresh air inlet filtering apparatus installed in a railroa car, certain portions of the car being broke away;

Figure 2 is a reduced horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof; and

Figure 3 is a reduced side elevation of a portion of the railroad car in which my filter is installed. 2

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- In order that certain features of this invention may be more easily comprehended, it might first be pointed out that air filters such as are used on railroad cars have, in many instances, been a source of inconvenience and expense not only in the installation but also in subsequent maintenance. The capacityof many of these filters is often inadequate for the fresh air requirements of the car and, in many instances, do not properly filter dust and cinders from the incoming air. Space is at a premium on a railroad car and the filtering equipment should, therefore. be as compact as possible. Further difilcuities are encountered in installing the filter units themselves and removing them for replacement. The filtering units per se must be removed every so often for cleaning. In present constructions,'these. units are often in poor locations dif- 5 ficult to reachthus necessitating additional labor when replacements are 'made. Another object of this invention is to provide an air filtering apparatus in which the above difficulties in' addition to many' others are overcome in a thorough and efiicl ent manner. I

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 3, a railroad car generally in-, dicated at it has the usual roof portion H from which a clerestory generally indicated at [2 extends, the clerestory comprising'vertical side walls Ho and a top or roof lib. In the side walls I211 (Figure 3) of clerestory l2 preferably near one end of the car, I provide a suitable number of enclosures g'enerallyindicated at l3, two enclo- 2o sures being shown herein by way of illustration; these enclosures form fresh air inlet ports I l.

. As is more clearly shown in Figure l, clerestory side wall Ila is provided with an opening ii in which enclosures ii are mounted and held in* position preferably by suitable brackets I 6 or the like secured to side wall lid, and top Ito and bottom lib of the enclosures. Preferably enclosures II are provided with an outwardly and downwardly extending front wall portion |3c which has a flange ltd. Bottom wall [3b of the enclosures is provided with a similar flange lie and preferably extending between and secured to flanges lid and Be are suitable screens I! or the like; screens I! are also secured tothe side walls III (Figure 3) of enclosures l3.

A plurality of louvers l8 are desirably secured to side walls lflf (Figure 1) thus bridging the space therebetween (Figure 1). Louvers l8 preferably slope downwardly as viewed in Figure 1 and are preferably arranged in staggered relation. Each of louvers i8, is provided with an overlapping edge I80 and a downwardly depending flange lBb to impede the passage of moisture and cinders through the enclosures. Screens I1 preferably have a mesh small enough to prevent the entrance of larger cinders and other foreign particles but'not so small as to materially hinder the normal passage of air therethrough. Accordingly the inner'side enclosures II (Figure 1) form fresh air inlet ports is for car Ill. 7 Still referring to Figure 1, an air duct generally indicated at III is connected at one end to fresh air inlet port I! and at its other end to suitable air conditioning apparatus generally indicated at -2|; apparatus 2| may be supported between brackets22 or the like which are secured to the car frame in any suitable'manner. Apparatus 2| preferably includes heating and cooling coils connected to the steam pipes (not shown) of the car and to suitable cooling equipment (not shown) by suitable pipe connections 23 and 24.

Air duct 26 preferably has a larger sectional area than air inlet ports I6 and the top of the air duct is preferably secured to the inside of the side wall |2a (Figure 1) at a point adjacent the top of inlet ports l9 whereas the bottom of the air duct is secured to the wall at a point spaced substantially therebelow. Air duct 26 preferably comprises an outer section 25, an intermediate section 26, and an inner section 21.

Outer section preferably is provided with flanges 25a and 251) which are secured to wall |2a of the car and a flange 250 secured in any suitable manner, for example by spot welding, to a flange 260. on one side of intermediate section 26.

Section 26 is also provided with upwardly extending portions 26b and 26c joined along the top by a portion 26d to form a recessed section 26 the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

Extending from the bottom of intermediate section 26 are flanges. 26c and 26!, these two flanges bordering opening 26 preferablyin registry with recess 26. The inner end of intermediate section 26 has an opening 36 formedby a top flange 26g and a relatively large upwardly extending bottom flange 26h.

Still-referring to Figure 1. inner section 21 is providedwith outer flanges 21a and 21b, flange 21b being secured in any suitable manner as by spot welding to bottom flange 26h of intermediate section 26. Interposed between sections 26 and 21 I provide a plate or the like generally indicated at 3| thisplate havinga portion 3hr disposed between and'secured to flanges 26g and 21a of sections 26 and 21, respectively. The bottom portion of plate 3| is secured in any suitable manner to bottom flange 26hof section 26, plate 3| also having an opening 32 preferably in registry with and corresponding in size to opening 36 w in section 26. A portion 3) of plate 3| slopes downwardly and away from opening 32 terminating in a flange or stop portion Ilc. The-inner end of inner section 21 is flanged as at 21c and 21d, section 21 also having another flange or stop 21c for a purpose to be described hereinafter. A support plate 33 (Figure 1) which may conveniently be a part of the cabinet (not shown) in which a part of the cooling equipment is 10- catedhas secured thereto a bracket 36 secured in turn to flange 21c of inner section 21. Lower flange 21d. of v section 21 is secured to another bracket 36 and brackets II and 36 are preferably secured to and assist in supporting brackets 22 which in turn support the conditioning element 2|. Section 21 is preferably open substantially throughout the bottom portion thereof as viewed in Figure 1 and this opening 15, desirably in communication with the interior of the car, is preferably covered by a screen 36 or the A Itwillthusbeseen that freshairinlet ports I! communicate with air duct 26 to direct air to conditioning element 2| after being suitably mixed with recirculated air entering through opening 13, all as will be more fully-explained hereinafter.

' Referring now to Flgure'2, it may be seen that nected by a bottom portion 420.

cated at 31. While any suitable number of fllter units may be provided, I have shown three by way of illustration. Thus the end units of the set ofthree are slidably received in supporting channels formed by bracket members 36 secured to opposite sides of intermediate section 26 and. channel members generally indicated at 39 secured to the top and bottom of intermediate section 26 and preferably equidistantly spaced from the opposite sides of the section and from each other. Thus channel members 36 conveniently provide a third supporting channel which slidably receives the intermediate filtering unit 31 of the set of three. e

As is more clearly shown in Figure 1, side brackets 36 extend substantially throughout the height of intermediate section 26 and are provided with bottom web portions "381: (see also Figure 2) which are suitably secured to the bottom of section 26 adjacent opening 26 (Figure l) Brackets 36 are also provided with guide flanges 36b (Figures 1 and 2) which face each other to cooperate with channel members 36 to guide and hold filter units 31.

The top of fllter units 31 conveniently flt within recess 26 formed in the top of section 26. Spring clip members generally indicated at All are substantially U-shaped (Figure 1) and have one leg secured, as by rivets 4|, to the bottom of section 26. The other leg of U-shaped spring members 46 have flanges 46b and a finger engaging- 46 are provided for the upport of each of fllter units 31 and channel members 36 cooperate with guide brackets 36 to guide units 31 into and out of operative position. Thus the units may be easily installed and removed and are securely held in position after installation.

. Filter units 31 may be of any suitable construction and, as is more clearly shown in Figure 1, are not only substantially spaced from air inlet ports I6 but are considerablygreater in surface area than ports l6. To further adequately support fllter units 31 I provide a closure member generally indicated at 62. Closure I2 is preferably secured to a plurality of hinges 43 which are in turn attached to the bottom of intermediate section 26 (Figure 1). As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, hinges 63 are each preferably centrally disposed with respect to fllter units 31. Thus closure 42 extends complete- Lvacross opening 26- (Figure 1) in the bottom of section 26 and is preferably channel shaped (Figure 1) having side portions 42a and 42!) con- 62 is in a closed position, portion 62:: thereof preferably rests against flange 26a of section 26 whereas portion 42b is preferably slightly spaced from flange 26 of section 26. A flange 42c extends-at right angles from portion 42b of the closure and rests against the bottom of section 26 when the closure is in the closed position.

' To hold the closure 42, as shown in the full When closure line position in Figure 1, closed I provide a plurality of substantially U-shaped securing brackets-4| suitably spaced along section 26 (Figure 2 and having a leg positioned ,to engage portion a closed position. securing brackets 44 may be moved out of their vating mechanism (not shown).

aromas engage portion 42c of closure 42 and the bottom oi section 28 respectively to hold the closure in Upon loosening wing nuts 46,

securing position and closure I2 swung downwardly into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, thus permitting access to filter units 31. Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, I provide a plurality of eyelets 41 which have base portions l'la secured to bottom flange 2th of intermediate section 28 substantially adjacent opening 30. As is best shown in Figure 2, a rod 48 extends through eyelets 41 and is secured to a damper I! in any suitable manner. Preferably one end a of, rod 48 extends from section 21 (Figure 2) and is provided with suitable gripping suriaces for any suitable handle or oper- Damper 49 is preferably provided with suitable openings 490; thus when the damper is in its bottom-most position and resting against stop or flange Tie (Figure 1), its pipes, 23 may protrude therethrough. When the damper is in its topmost position (the dotted line position in Figure 1) it rests against stop or flange lie on plate 3|. Thus it may be seen that damper 49 may be operated to shut oil completely the inflow of fresh'air flowing through fresh air inlet ports I! and thence through opening 30, or to shut ofl recirculated air coming through screen 36 (Figure 1). Furthermore, the damper may occupy any desired intermediate position to provide the desired mixture of fresh and recirculated air, all according to the requirements within the car. It will be noted that'thermostatically controlled mechanism 'may be connected to rod 48 to control the position of damper it automatically.

It may now be seen that as i'resh'air enters enclosure it (Figure 1) through screen ll, it passes between the interstices of louvers l8 and any large particles not stopped by screen I1 and some 01' the moisture which may have passed therethrough impinges against the louvers and drops therefrom to the bottom of enclosure l3. When, however, finer particles of dust or foreign matter flow with the air through ports is, they are filtered out as the air passes through filter units I1. Thence the filtered air passes in varying amounts through openings Ill and 32, accord- 'ing to' the position of damper 49, into section 21 where the fresh air and recirculated air is mixed and directed through conditioning element 2i from whence it passes into the car. It will thus be seen that the effective surface of filter units 31 is substantially larger than the area of inlet ports l9. Hence the filter units 31 can accommodate all the air entering the car by way of the inlet ports and may be used for a greater length of time before removal for cleaning becomes necessary. Furthermore, it will be seen that this apparatus is compact so that it may occupy a small amount of space in the car. Further still, the filter units 31 may be easily replaced by opening closure 42 and releasing spring catches "as explained more fully above.

Accordingly I have provided an air filter apparatus which is thoroughly practical and emcient in operation and in which the several objects hereinabove set forth in'addition to many others are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and, as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set 'i'orth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

I. In apparatus or the character described, in combination, a car having a clerestory, means forming an air inlet port in said clerestory, an

enclosure within said car opening into said port,

means forming an outlet from said enclosure, means forming an inlet port from the interior of said car into said enclosure adjacent said outlet, and a single damper disposed within said enclosure adjacent said inlet port and said lastunits with respect to said ports to regulate the passage of air through said filter units, and a plurality oi catch members connected to said enclosure and adapted to hold said filter units in said position.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car having a roof, a clerestory extending from said roof, means forming a fresh air inlet port in said clerestory, a plurality oflouvers disposed within said port, said louvers being formed and arranged to permit the free passage of air therebetween and to impede the passage of foreign p rticles and moisture, an air duct in said car connected to said inlet port, filter units in said air duct across the path of air flowing from said port and'having a capacity at least as great as that of said port, a damper member associated with said enclosure and operable to control the amount of air flowing therethrough, and an air conditioning element arranged and positioned to condition the air flowing through said enclosure from said units.

4. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car having a roof, a clerestory extending from said roof, means forming a fresh air inlet port in said clerestory, a plurality of louvers disposed within said port, said louvers being formed and arranged to permit the free passage of air therebetween and to impede the passage of foreign particles and moisture, an air ductin said car connected to said inlet port, filter units in said duct across the path of air flowing from said port and having a greater surface area than the area of said port, resilient catch means in said duct to hold said units in position, and an air conditioning member in said enclosure and located to receive said air after it passes through said filter units.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a railroad car having an air inlet port formed therein, means forming a conduit having one end connected to said port, air conditioning apparatus located substantially at theflowing from said port to said apparatus so that iii I said inlet port and said conduitso that the airmust pass through said filter means, means for Pa tentshouldbe read tutu this dorrection therein thattlie form to the record of the case the Patent Office;

' mentioned port. and means associated with said ditioning apparatus located substantially at the opposite end of said conduit, air filter means disposed in said condult'and blocking the path of air flowing from said port to said apparatus so that the air must pass therethrough, means forminganother air inlet port into said conduit from the interior of said car and located on the far side of said filter means with respect to said first-mentioned port, and damper means disposed between said filter means and said secondmentioned inlet port and draped to regulate the flow of air to said air conditioning apparatus from both or said ports, said filter means having a capacity at least as great as that of said first-mentioned inletport.

7. In apparatusof the'character described, in combination, a railroad car having an air inlet port formed therein, means forming a, conduit having one'end, connected to said port, air con ditioning'apparatus located substantially at the opposite end oi said conduit, airfilter means disposed in" said conduit adjacent to but spaced from said air inlet] port, said filter means being adapted to block the path of air'fiowing through introducing vitiated air from the interior of the car into said conduit and means in: said conduit located on the far side of said filter means with respect to said inlet port for varying at will the amount of fresh and vitiatedalr flowing to said air conditioning apparatus 8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car, means forming a 'fresh air inlet port in a wall'of said car, an air duct in said car connected to said inlet port. means forming a port associated with said air duct to ac- Patent I No. 1 7 53 e damper member operatively associated with saidcERrrFIcArE or CORRECTION,

Join: 'D.-" ,STR'OBELLK commodate the passage of fresh air, means forming a port in said air duct for recirculated air. and a damper member operatively associated with said air duct and operable to close said fresh air port or said recirculated air port, said damper member also being operable to assume various positions between said fresh air port and said recirculated air port whereby the amounts of fresh air and recirculated air passing said damper member may. be controlled at will.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car, means forming a fresh air inlet port in a wall of said car, an air duct in said car connected to said inlet port, means forming a port associated with said air duct to accommodate the passage of fresh air, means forming a port in said air duct for recirculated air, a

air duct and operable to elose said fresh'air port or said recirculated air port, said damper member also being operable to asume various p0si+ tions between said iresh air port and said recircuiated air port whereby the amounts of fresh air and recirculated air passing said damper member may be controlled at will, and air filter means in said air duct positioned to filter fresh air before it fiows through said fresh air port.

10. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forming an air conduit having a fresh air inlet at one end, means forming a port associated with said conduit to accommodate the passage of fresh air. means associated with said inlet for removing relatively large foreign particles from the air as it enters said inlet, means operatlvely associated with said conduit for removing relatively minute foreign particles from the air flowing through said inlet, means for altering the temperature of the air flowing from said conduitsmeans for introducing vitiated air intos'aid'cbnduit from the interior of said car,

and a damper operatively associated with said conduit and operable to close said fresh" air port or said last-mentionedmeans, said damper member also being operable to assume various positions between said outlet fresh air-and said lastmention'ed means whereby the amounts of fresh air and vitiated air passing said damper may be controlled ativill.

- JOHN D. s'rRoBELL.

Feb-may 8 i958 It is hereby jcertifie'dthat error App ars in the printed specification of the aboizemmbered patent requiring correction as follows: .Page 2, second column, dine 1 1; for: "upport" read support} 3 page secondcoiumn, line 17-18, claim 1 ,"fstrike" out the word fleet-mentioned! and insert the same before "inlet" line 17; page 1 second column, line'i 'j, c1ai1'nl0,'for the I I words outlfet fresh air" read fresh air port and the said Letters S1gned andsealed this 22nd day'of November; A. p. 1955.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

same may coni I said inlet port and said conduitso that the airmust pass through said filter means, means for Pa tentshouldbe read tutu this dorrection therein thattlie form to the record of the case the Patent Office;

' mentioned port. and means associated with said conduit and shaped to regulate the fiowof air to said air conditioning apparatus from both of said 6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a railroad car having an air inlet port formed therein, means forming a conduit having one end connected to said port, air conditioning apparatus located substantially at the opposite end of said conduit, air filter means disposed in said condult'and blocking the path of air flowing from said port to said apparatus so that the air must pass therethrough, means forminganother air inlet port into said conduit from the interior of said car and located on the far side of said filter means with respect to said first-mentioned port, and damper means disposed between said filter means and said secondmentioned inlet port and draped to regulate the flow of air to said air conditioning apparatus from both or said ports, said filter means having a capacity at least as great as that of said first-mentioned inletport.

7. In apparatusof the'character described, in combination, a railroad car having an air inlet port formed therein, means forming a, conduit having one'end, connected to said port, air con ditioning'apparatus located substantially at the opposite end oi said conduit, airfilter means disposed in" said conduit adjacent to but spaced from said air inlet] port, said filter means being adapted to block the path of air'fiowing through introducing vitiated air from the interior of the car into said conduit and means in: said conduit located on the far side of said filter means with respect to said inlet port for varying at will the amount of fresh and vitiatedalr flowing to said air conditioning apparatus 8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car, means forming a 'fresh air inlet port in a wall'of said car, an air duct in said car connected to said inlet port. means forming a port associated with said air duct to ac- Patent I No. 1 7 53 e damper member operatively associated with saidcERrrFIcArE or CORRECTION,

Join: 'D.-" ,STR'OBELLK commodate the passage of fresh air, means forming a port in said air duct for recirculated air. and a damper member operatively associated with said air duct and operable to close said fresh air port or said recirculated air port, said damper member also being operable to assume various positions between said fresh air port and said recirculated air port whereby the amounts of fresh air and recirculated air passing said damper member may. be controlled at will.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a car, means forming a fresh air inlet port in a wall of said car, an air duct in said car connected to said inlet port, means forming a port associated with said air duct to accommodate the passage of fresh air, means forming a port in said air duct for recirculated air, a

air duct and operable to elose said fresh'air port or said recirculated air port, said damper member also being operable to asume various p0si+ tions between said iresh air port and said recircuiated air port whereby the amounts of fresh air and recirculated air passing said damper member may be controlled at will, and air filter means in said air duct positioned to filter fresh air before it fiows through said fresh air port.

10. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, means forming an air conduit having a fresh air inlet at one end, means forming a port associated with said conduit to accommodate the passage of fresh air. means associated with said inlet for removing relatively large foreign particles from the air as it enters said inlet, means operatlvely associated with said conduit for removing relatively minute foreign particles from the air flowing through said inlet, means for altering the temperature of the air flowing from said conduitsmeans for introducing vitiated air intos'aid'cbnduit from the interior of said car,

and a damper operatively associated with said conduit and operable to close said fresh" air port or said last-mentionedmeans, said damper member also being operable to assume various positions between said outlet fresh air-and said lastmention'ed means whereby the amounts of fresh air and vitiated air passing said damper may be controlled ativill.

- JOHN D. s'rRoBELL.

Feb-may 8 i958 It is hereby jcertifie'dthat error App ars in the printed specification of the aboizemmbered patent requiring correction as follows: .Page 2, second column, dine 1 1; for: "upport" read support} 3 page secondcoiumn, line 17-18, claim 1 ,"fstrike" out the word fleet-mentioned! and insert the same before "inlet" line 17; page 1 second column, line'i 'j, c1ai1'nl0,'for the I I words outlfet fresh air" read fresh air port and the said Letters S1gned andsealed this 22nd day'of November; A. p. 1955.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

same may coni 

